Pope gives bishops’ conferences more leeway on liturgical matters

In a motu proprio (on his own initiative) titled Magnum Principium released on Sept. 9, Pope Francis wrote in part, that the “Apostolic See …. publish liturgical books, recognise adaptations approved by the Episcopal Conference according to the norm of law, and exercise vigilance that liturgical regulations are observed faithfully everywhere.” (Bold indicates change.)

In a note accompanying the motu proprio’s release, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments states the confirmatio process “leaves responsibility for the translation, presumed to be faithful, to the pastoral and doctrinal munus of the bishops’ conference.”

The document has references to Canon 838, which is the canon that was altered to give the world’s bishops’ conferences more say in the translations.

In a commentary for America by Father Michael Ryan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle, who stated, “And for every priest and every person in the pews who has struggled for the past six years through awkward, convoluted, overblown, “sacral” prayers, this is a happy day,” click here.

For the America magazine report and links to the document and accompanying notes, click here.